A quick look at those fans and teams feeling good and bad on Selection Sunday:

Winner: Missouri

In their ideal world, the Tigers would have been a No. 1 seed in the Midwest Region, which will be held in St. Louis. In their mostly ideal world, they would have been a No. 2 seed in the Midwest. In reality, though, they’re a No. 2 seed in the West. And that’s a really good thing.

Missouri's two likely opponents in their second and third games, No. 7 seed Florida and No. 3 Marquette, play similar styles, and at least on paper, don’t seem to present the type of size issues — athletic big men — that can hurt the Tigers.

A more manageable path to the Final Four is more important than getting a No. 1 seed or playing close to home.

Loser: Kentucky

In terms of raw talent, there might be only three or four teams that can match Connecticut’s stable of horses. And yet, Kentucky, the No. 1-overall seed, could well have to face the Huskies in their second game. And then, Kentucky could have to face arguably the best of the No. 4 seeds (Indiana) or the best of the No. 5s (Wichita State) in the Sweet 16.

Winner: Iona

This quality mid-major fell short in its conference tournament and had to bank on the selection committee valuing its solid non-conference strength of schedule and willingness to play on the road. The Gaels are dancing.

Loser: Drexel

This quality mid-major fell short in its conference tournament and had to bank on the selection committee valuing the fact it won 25 of its final 27 games. The Dragons were banished to the NIT.

Winner: Everyone in Ames, Iowa

Ames’ two favorite basketball-playing sons — North Carolina’s Harrison Barnes and Creighton’s Doug McDermott — could meet Sunday. If those former high school teammates get past their opening games, expect a full caravan of cars with Iowa plates to descend on Greensboro, N.C. Actually, expect to see that before Friday’s games.

Winner: Conspiracy theorists

Seriously, Duke and Kentucky lined up to possibly repeat their epic Elite Eight matchup on the 20th anniversary of maybe the greatest game in the history of college basketball?

Kentucky facing a stacked half of the bracket despite being the No. 1-overall seed?

Mid-major marvels Wichita State and VCU facing off in a 5-12 matchup so they each can’t knock off a “power conference” school?

North Carolina and its coach, Roy Williams, lined up to face his former school, Kansas, in the Elite Eight?

Loser: Realists

There are so many rules and stipulations about where teams can be placed during the bracketing process that masterminding these storybook matchups is nearly impossible. But, seriously, nobody wants to listen to realists in the hours after the bracket is released. EVERYTHING IS RIGGED! (Hint: It’s really not.)

For the first time since 1995, this small-school conference produced an at-large team — Iona — in addition to its automatic qualifier. Things are looking up.

Loser: The Pac-12

For the second time in three seasons, this so-called power conference produced only one at-large team — Cal — in addition to its automatic qualifier. Skies are falling, people.

Winner: Michigan State

The Spartans not only needed the resume win against Ohio State in the Big Ten Tournament championship game, but they needed to prove they were a No. 1-seed caliber team after the injury to freshman standout Branden Dawson. Mission accomplished, and the Spartans were rewarded with a spot on the top-seed line, though that does mean they’re heading to Phoenix for the Sweet 16/Elite Eight games (assuming, of course, they make it that far).

Loser: Northwestern

Remember back on Jan. 14, when the Wildcats knocked off Michigan State? With the win, they moved to 25th in the RPI and seemingly close to lock status in their drive to earn the school’s first ever NCAA Tournament bid. But they went just 6-8 from that point, and all six of those wins were against Big Ten teams that missed the NCAA Tournament. Actually, that should have read, “that missed the tournament, too.” That awful finish sent the Wildcats to yet another NIT bid.

Winner: West coast conferences not named the Pac-12

The Mountain West sent four teams — fifth-seeded New Mexico, sixth-seeded UNLV, sixth-seeded San Diego State and 11th-seeded Colorado State — and the West Coast Conference sent three — seventh-seeded Gonzaga, seventh-seeded Saint Mary’s and 14th-seeded BYU. The Pac-12, as previously noted, sent just two teams — 11th-seeded Colorado and 12th-seeded Cal.

Loser: Fans looking for “local” teams in Phoenix

Of the 16 teams in the West Region, only six actually are located West of the Mississippi River. And only two of those actually play their first two games out west — New Mexico and Long Beach State are in Portland, Ore.; if BYU survives its Dayton experience, the Cougars are heading to Louisville, Ky., where they’ll be joined by Colorado State.